Jothikumaran caught accepting bribe money

IHF secretary-general K Jothikumaran was purportedly shown receiving cash for getting a player included in the senior team.

A fresh controversy erupted in Indian hockey on Tuesday with a television news channel claiming to have done a sting operation in which IHF secretary-general K Jothikumaran was purportedly shown receiving cash for getting a player included in the senior team.

While Jothikumaran himself was not available for comments despite repeated attempts to reach him, IHF President KPS Gill reacted sharply saying it was a "reprehensible act" and no words were enough to condemn that.

Headlines Today said in a release that its Special Investigation Team found that the selection process in hockey was not "always fair, the current administration is highly corrupt and that IHF President Gill is oblivious of the corrupt practices of his colleagues."

The channel claimed that after receiving a cash payment of Rs two lakhs and taking a promise of another Rs three lakhs to be given to his man in Delhi, Jothikumaran assured the channel's team of getting a player picked up for the senior hockey team for the Azlan Shah hockey tournament next month.

It claimed that the bribe money was given to him in a five star hotel in Delhi in two instalments on April 10 and 11.

While Jothikumaran refused to take the phone calls made to him, Gill told PTI that Jothikumaran's act of taking money was "extremely disgraceful" and the IHF will take action against him.